The Brazilian supermodel made a comeback on the runway at the age of 43, showing off her “slim” body transformation for the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Adriana Lima’s appearance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on October 15, 2024, was one of the best moments of the night. After retiring in 2018, after nearly 20 years with the lingerie brand, and having her third child in 2022, she amazed the crowd with her new look, which fans quickly noticed and praised.
Lima first shared her retirement in 2018 at the age of 37. In an Instagram post, which she has since deleted, she reflected on her long time with the brand. “Dear Victoria, thank you for showing me the world, sharing your secrets, and most importantly not just giving me wings but teaching me to fly,” she wrote.
When talking about her last walk, Lima told People, “This has been my 18th fashion show, and I am still as excited as I was from the first day. I think this year is going to be the highlight of my career.”
After leaving modeling, she was only seen at some events and on social media. In a TikTok video from February 2022, Lima shared that she was pregnant with her third child, her first with partner Andre Lemmers.
By April, the couple released a gender reveal video, announcing that a boy would join Lima’s daughters from her previous marriage, Valentina and Sienna. Her son, Cyan, was born in August 2022.
During her pregnancy, the retired supermodel looked amazing in stylish maternity outfits at important events, like the 75th Cannes Film Festival in May 2022. Wearing a mustard gown from Nicolas Jebran, she proudly showed off her baby bump on the red carpet, and while she looked great, it was different from her usual slimmer figure.
Fast forward to 2023, Lima attended the Venice International Film Festival in a Pinko gown with a plunging neckline and gold accents. At this event, her fuller face and body were still noticeable.
A few months later, the supermodel went to the Mon Cheri Barbara Tag event in Munich, Germany, in December 2023. She wore a form-fitting gray gown by Donna Karan and looked like she was losing her previous weight.
However, her October 2024 runway appearance showed her full transformation. During the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Brooklyn, Lima wowed the crowd not just with her outfits but also with her youthful appearance. A backstage photo captured her glowing skin and tight facial features.
Once ready, Lima hit the runway wearing a checker-striped outfit with a black bra and high-waisted pants, topped with a long-sleeved cut-out top for her first look. Her grunge-style angel wings added a cool touch to the outfit.
For her second appearance, she wore a red lace nightie with sparkling wings that showcased her renewed energy. This moment reminded everyone of her younger days as an angel for the brand, and fans quickly expressed their admiration for her physical change on social media.
One fan said, “She’s lost so much weight. She’s back .” Another wrote, “SHE LOOKS GREAT HER SLIM BODY IS BACK. GREAT JOB. I LIKE THIS OUTFIT TOO.”
Kiya Cole, the mother of actress Skai Jackson, added, “She worked hard in the gym this past year! I was a witness. No quick fix for her!” Another commenter expressed, “She is back with a vengeance, love her.”
Fans were also happy to see the show featuring a variety of healthier bodies, like Lima’s. One commented, “These bodies look healthier, and I like that, in different sizes but healthy, good for VS.”
My 81-year-old grandma started posting selfies on Instagram with heavy filters.
The notification popped up on my phone, another Instagram post from Grandma Rose. I sighed, tapping on the icon. There she was, her face smoothed and airbrushed beyond recognition, a pair of oversized, cartoonish sunglasses perched on her nose. A cascade of digital sparkles rained down around her. The caption read, “Feeling my vibe! #OOTD #YOLO #GrandmaGoals.”
My stomach churned. At first, it had been a novelty, a quirky, endearing quirk of my 81-year-old grandmother. But now, weeks into her social media blitz, it was bordering on unbearable.
It had started innocently enough. She’d asked me to help her set up an Instagram account, intrigued by the photos I’d shown her of my travels and friends. I’d thought it was a sweet way for her to stay connected with the family, a digital scrapbook of sorts.
But Grandma Rose had taken to Instagram like a fish to water, or rather, like a teenager to a viral trend. She’d discovered the world of filters, the power of hashtags, and the allure of online validation. Suddenly, she was posting multiple times a day, each photo more heavily filtered than the last.
The captions were a whole other level of cringe. She’d pepper them with slang I barely understood, phrases like “slay,” “lit,” and “no cap.” She’d even started using emojis, a barrage of hearts, stars, and laughing faces that seemed to clash with her gentle, grandmotherly image.
The pinnacle of my mortification came when she asked me, with wide, earnest eyes, how to do a “get ready with me” video. “You know, darling,” she’d said, her voice brimming with excitement, “like those lovely young ladies on the internet. I want to show everyone my makeup routine!”
I’d choked on my coffee. My makeup routine consisted of moisturizer and a swipe of mascara. Grandma Rose’s “makeup routine” involved a dusting of powder and a dab of lipstick.
The worst part was, my entire family was egging her on. They’d shower her with likes and comments, calling her “amazing,” “inspiring,” and “a social media queen.” They were completely oblivious to my growing dread.
I was trapped in a vortex of secondhand embarrassment. What if my friends saw these posts? What if my coworkers stumbled upon her profile? I could already imagine the whispers, the snickers, the awkward attempts at polite conversation.
I found myself avoiding family gatherings, dreading the inevitable discussions about Grandma Rose’s latest post. I’d scroll through my feed, wincing at each new notification, my finger hovering over the “unfollow” button, a button I couldn’t bring myself to press.
One evening, I found myself sitting across from my mom, the glow of her phone illuminating her face as she scrolled through Grandma Rose’s profile. “Isn’t she just the cutest?” she gushed, showing me a photo of Grandma Rose with a digital halo and angel wings.
“Mom,” I said, my voice strained, “don’t you think this is… a little much?”
My mom looked at me, her brow furrowed. “What do you mean? She’s having fun. She’s expressing herself.”
“But it’s not her,” I argued. “It’s like she’s trying to be someone else.”
“She’s adapting, darling,” my mom said, her voice gentle. “She’s embracing technology. She’s living her best life.”
I knew I wasn’t going to win this argument. My family, in their well-meaning attempt to support Grandma Rose, were completely blind to the awkwardness of the situation.
I decided to try a different approach. The next time Grandma Rose asked me for help with her Instagram, I sat down with her and gently explained the concept of “authenticity.” I showed her photos of herself, unfiltered and unedited, her smile genuine, her eyes sparkling with wisdom.
“You’re beautiful just the way you are, Grandma,” I said, my voice sincere. “You don’t need filters or slang to be amazing.”
She looked at the photos, her eyes softening. “Do you really think so, darling?” she asked, her voice a whisper.
“Absolutely,” I said, squeezing her hand.
Grandma Rose didn’t stop posting, but she did tone it down. The filters became less intense, the captions more genuine. She even started sharing stories from her life, anecdotes that were both heartwarming and hilarious.
And slowly, I began to appreciate her online presence. I realized that it wasn’t about trying to be an influencer; it was about Grandma Rose finding her own way to connect with the world, to express her joy, to simply be herself. And in the end, that was more than enough.
Leave a Reply